as in vicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
the neighborhood chatterbox has again been spreading malicious gossip
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of malicious
While such things are, of course, critical for driving user engagement, they can also be used with malicious intent.
—
Davey Winder, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2025
The current government’s purposeful misrepresentation and defamation of DEI in such a comprehensively cruel and malicious manner deserves nothing less than personal and communal outrage and resistance.
—Dr. Tony Lux, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025
But classified information is compartmentalized within the government for a reason—to limit the number of people who can see it to those who really need to know and to keep the risk of inadvertent or malicious disclosure to a minimum.
—James Goldgeier, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2025
Experts say carriers will lock down any unregistered traffic from businesses, and systems designed to flag malicious activity will only be improved.
—Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 2 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for malicious 
Davey Winder, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2025
The current government’s purposeful misrepresentation and defamation of DEI in such a comprehensively cruel and malicious manner deserves nothing less than personal and communal outrage and resistance.
—Dr. Tony Lux, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025
But classified information is compartmentalized within the government for a reason—to limit the number of people who can see it to those who really need to know and to keep the risk of inadvertent or malicious disclosure to a minimum.
—James Goldgeier, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2025
Experts say carriers will lock down any unregistered traffic from businesses, and systems designed to flag malicious activity will only be improved.
—Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 2 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for malicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious
Adjective
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By the time Hezbollah launched its bombardment of Israel in solidarity with Hamas' vicious attack on Israel, the militant Lebanese organization had managed to build a significant military capability under the nose of UNFIL and was more robust than ever before.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Nashville's Bad Idea is a wine bar and restaurant set in a former Presbyterian church that fell into disrepair after a vicious tornado.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The current government’s purposeful misrepresentation and defamation of DEI in such a comprehensively cruel and malicious manner deserves nothing less than personal and communal outrage and resistance.—
Dr. Tony Lux,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Immigrant advocates call those moves cruel and unnecessary.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The two central characters, a mild bespectacled middle-school geek named Hal and his hateful abusive bully of a twin brother, Bill (both are played by Christian Convery), discover the monkey sealed away in a round box.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
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Indeed, Ye advertised his Yeezy website during the 2025 Super Bowl broadcast Sunday (Feb. 9), which aired amid a days-long storm of hateful tweets from the star targeting Jewish people.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat had the splashiest individual stat line with 2.5 sacks, but a crew of nasty defensive tackles wrought devastation versus the run and the pass.—
Tim Graham,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
-
What follows is a twisted game of house where familiar familial relationships crumble and new ones take root like nasty black weeds.—
M.L. Rio,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The Death Star, the very target of Rogue One’s rebel plot, has been destroyed; the Empire — namely Darth Vader and his malevolent master, the Emperor — is on the hunt for rebels.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
15 Feb. 2025
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The impact of conspiracy theories about USAID is already being felt, and a crusade to paint the organization as a malevolent force by Musk threw them into the mainstream.—
Elizabeth Both,
NBC News,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Biden’s mean-spirited, spiteful actions are only more reasons for Americans to vote Republican in future elections.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2025
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Share [Findings] Unaffiliated voters are growing more spiteful toward both Democrats and Republicans.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harper's Magazine,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In the writer-director’s latest horror flick, The Monkey, there is no malignant apparition, and death doesn’t lurk or stalk.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
7 Feb. 2025
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As per Healthline, patches or ulcers may indicate abnormal cell growth, which can develop into malignant tumors.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near malicious
Cite this Entry
“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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